Snatched phrases (on being present)

Do the anxiety. Then leave it there. This is our challenge.

from ‘First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story about Anxiety‘ by Sarah Wilson

Simple words, huh? They apply to all manner of ills, I think — not just anxiety. They are about staying in the present: doing the hard stuff when it comes up, not questioning it or agonising over it … and then leaving it behind and moving on.

There are no solutions to anxiety out there, Wilson argues further on: no cures or fixes. So you just do it …

… and then you leave it.

This makes great sense to me.

Today’s photos? They’re from one of my latest wanders in the Scrub, a couple of weeks ago: mid-March. It was a still, grey afternoon, and when I first began to walk, the colours seemed drab, and the birdsong was muted, and the air felt unkind and cold.

But as I wandered on, I began to see a few flowers despite the greyness, and I came upon a kangaroo, which stiffened at my bumbling approach and then bounded away. I heard the sea murmur somewhere through and beyond the thicket of trees, and a magpie began to carol, low and soft.

I had done my day, and I had left it there, and things were fine. Just fine.

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4 thoughts on “The beast”

Ah, the ‘leave it’ part is the challenge. Focused breathing is my best ploy.
I love seeing your flowers and plants, so different from ours. I try to imagine walking along the trail, enjoying the smells, sights and sounds.

I do mindful breathing exercises, too. But I actually find they make me feel worse when I’m really anxious. I tend to to do them when I’m feeling good, as a preventative.
As for imagining walking along the trail, I do the same with your photos, Eliza — with much enjoyment 🙂 x